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A case study in PDF forensics: The Epstein PDFs

This article details a PDF forensics case study on a small, random selection of the Epstein PDF files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The tranche contains 4,085 PDF files, with an estimated 5,879 remaining unreleased. Key findings include:

  • A difference in PDF version reporting between forensic tools.
  • The presence of two incremental updates.
  • The discovery of a hidden (orphaned) document information dictionary revealing the software used in processing.
  • The DoJ avoided JPEG images to prevent metadata leakage.
  • Overall, the DoJ’s sanitization workflow could be improved to reduce file size and information leakage.
Peter Wyatt

By Peter Wyatt
December 2025

A case study in PDF forensics: The Epstein PDFs

This article details a PDF forensics case study on a small, random selection of the Epstein PDF files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The tranche contains 4,085 PDF files, with an estimated 5,879 remaining unreleased. Key findings include:

  • A difference in PDF version reporting between forensic tools.
  • The presence of two incremental updates.
  • The discovery of a hidden (orphaned) document information dictionary revealing the software used in processing.
  • The DoJ avoided JPEG images to prevent metadata leakage.
  • Overall, the DoJ’s sanitization workflow could be improved to reduce file size and information leakage.
Peter Wyatt

By Peter Wyatt
December 2025

Australia and New Zealand jointly adopt PDF/A-4

February 2023 by Peter Wyatt
Article


The joint Australian and New Zealand national committee on Records and Document Management Systems recommendation to both Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand to adopt PDF/A-4 was completed on 23 … Read more

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January 2023 by PDF Association staff
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A new type of PDF Association event, PDF Week is the ideal way to get to know the experts developing … Read more

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January 2023 by Peter Wyatt
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Adobe engineers have formally added support for Unicode 15 to the CMap resources for both Adobe-Japan1-7 and Adobe-KR-9 in the … Read more

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January 2023 by Peter Wyatt
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How ISO 19445 might be used with PDF 2.0 and related technology updates relevant to the graphic arts industry.

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January 2023 by PDF Association staff
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Along with membership dues, Adobe’s Standards Support Endowment facilities administration of ISO TC 171 SC 2 and sustains the continuing … Read more

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January 2023 by Peter Wyatt
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CTO Peter Wyatt summarizes key takeaways from the first two years of the PDF specification’s public errata process.

Article

January 2023 by Peter Wyatt
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ISO TC 171 SC 2 is publishing new extensions and clarifications to PDF 2.0 in support of advanced cryptography.

Article

December 2022 by Duff Johnson
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In 2023 the PDF Association will focus on technical community while the final phase of the SafeDocs program offers an … Read more

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December 2022 by Matthias Valvekens (Matthias Valvekens)
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A commentary on the interoperability of encrypting PDF documents with public-key cryptography.

Article

December 2022 by Matthias Valvekens (Matthias Valvekens)
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Identifying the signer’s key in a PDF signature: how does that work?

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December 2022 by Dietrich von Seggern (callas software GmbH)
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Dietrich von Seggern from callas software explains, how companies can optimally prepare PDF files for variable data printing.

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